Biopolymers as wound healing materials

The use of biopolymers from different sources has been investigated for many years for pharmaceutical and biomedical applications. This chapter provides a short overview on the chemical and physical properties of several important biopolymers (eg, alginate, chitosan, pectin, and gelatin) used as wound healing materials and how their properties are exploited as wound dressings. The multifunctional behavior and tunability of biopolymers facilitate their application to a wide variety of wound types, from woven fibers that swell on contact with exudate to water-rich hydrogels which can encourage and maintain a moist wound environment in dry wounds. The large variety of biopolymers to choose from and the ability to mix biopolymers provide an array of physical behaviors which can be engineered for specific functionalities. The physiological compatibility and the ability to control the release of drugs when exposed to various biological environments mean that smart, physiologically responsive biopolymers can be developed.